Drivers face a diversion of almost four miles while a central Colchester road is closed at night for a footbridge to be replaced.

Balkerne Hill will be closed in both directions for three nights next month and three nights in May while the bridge, linking St Mary’s car park to Balkerne Gate and the town centre, is re-installed.

Works are scheduled to begin on the Essex County Council scheme from March 29.

Balkerne Hill will be closed between 8pm and 5am from April 1-3, weather permitting, or from April 8-10 if delayed.

It will then be closed again for the same times from May 4-6, or May 11-13 if delayed.

The closures are needed while the bridge is removed and then replaced.

The 3.7 mile diversion for northbound motorists will be via Southway, Lexden Road, Cymbeline Way, Colne Bank Avenue and Westway, and vice versa for those travelling southbound.

Access to St Mary’s car park will be maintained throughout, but drivers leaving the multi-storey will not be able to join Balkerne Hill directly throughout the works from March 29 to May 20, instead being diverted through St Mary’s Fields.

The footbridge itself will also be closed through-out, with pedestrians having to use either the traffic light crossing at Crouch Street or the subway at Middleborough roundabout.

Essex County Council said pedestrian access to properties would be maintained, whie emergency services vehicles would be allowed access through the closure.

The night closure will overlap with the 24-hour a day closure of Brook Street, to the other side of the town centre, for congestion-busting works to replace a mini-roundabout with traffic lights.